On one of my last days in New York City, while wandering through the Washington Heights area, I stumbled upon this eclectic cafe called Taszo. They offer a huge variety of drinks and food, an espresso bar, and a selection of wines. The espresso in my Americano was mild and buttery with a little bit of a bitter aftertaste. I also had a small macaroon to accompany my coffee. They offer coconut and French macaroons along with a variety of other pastries. The macaroon I had was tasty and warmly comforting, but surprisingly a little spicy; I think it was ginger and cinnamon-flavored.

In addition to the coffee and pastry selection, I really enjoyed the layout of the space as well as their decorations. The ceiling is very high and one entire wall is mostly window, which really brightened up the space during the daytime. Decor is industrial-era appliances and trinkets, like typewriters, sewing machines, and vintage cameras. Some of the paintings seemed haphazardly chosen, but the combination of all of these little unique details added up to a charming, cozy atmosphere that is quiet enough for studying but spacious enough to have a conversation with a friend or the barista without disturbing the other customers.

Coffee: 6/10. Not my favorite coffee, but not bad at all! I prefer espresso to be a little stronger and more acidic rather than buttery flavor.

Music: 8/10. I think the music added another dimension to the eclectic collection of styles that are happening in this cafe. When I visited, they were playing upbeat world music – it sounded like Spanish and French, but it could have been anything.

Location: 6/10. It would be a little hard to find if you didn’t know what you were looking for, and it’s very much out of the way of all the major tourist attractions. However, it is right next to a subway entrance for the 1 line, so it’s not terribly inconvenient.

Atmosphere: 9/10. I was really digging the atmosphere, and I would love to come back someday with a good book or a notebook to spend a few hours writing and people-watching by the window.

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/taszo/feed/0taszobeautifulemmajanemorganCollageTaszoCollageeee.jpgCollective Cafehttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/collective-cafe/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/collective-cafe/#respondMon, 28 Mar 2016 16:12:10 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=280Continue reading Collective Cafe]]>Collective Cafe is in the West Village area of NYC and serves Australian-inspired beverages and light, healthy food. I just stopped in to get a coffee to go while exploring the adorable Greenwich Village, but I really enjoyed the design and style of the cafe. It’s a very simple theme, not pretentious or too avant-garde like a lot of coffee shops in NYC tend to be. It was incredibly crowded when I went (mid-afternoon on a weekday) and I pity anyone who goes there to study (unless you go early in the morning, it’s just not going to happen). It is a great space for people-watching, if you manage to get a seat. The windows provide a convenient view of the streets, and even the clientele of the cafe is sure to be a source of interest for anyone who enjoys observing others’ social interactions. I love going to coffee shops to people-watch (in a non-creepy way) because you get so many different kinds of people. There are those who are too busy to even tell you their order, and will just point at things while simultaneously composing an email on their phone and listening in on a conference call that’s happening in their ear. There are large groups of friends that come to eat or drink together, and it can be fun trying to guess how they met, who is closer to whom, how old they are, which ones are on the “fringes” of the group, etc. Here there are limitless possibilities for the observation of human nature.

Coffee: 7/10. I remember the coffee being good, but not mind-blowing. Definitely better off here than a Starbucks, but you don’t need to go out of your way to stop by.

Location: 10/10. Located in charming Greenwich, it’s in the perfect place for tourists or anyone who happens to be in the area.

Atmosphere: 6.5/10. Much too crowded for my tastes, but I really liked the interior design of the eating area and the bar behind the counter.

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/collective-cafe/feed/0FotorCreatedemmajanemorganBibble & Siphttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/bibble-sip/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/bibble-sip/#respondSun, 20 Mar 2016 21:05:06 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=248Continue reading Bibble & Sip]]>I recently had the opportunity to travel to New York City for a week to visit my sister. One of our first stops was this trendy cafe and bakery called Bibble & Sip, with the affectionate motto “B.S. All You Want.” Located on West 51st St., this spot is often crowded and bubbling with a warm, social atmosphere. The coffee here was the best Americano I’ve found on the East Coast, but the experience goes beyond just the amazing beverages. Bibble & Sip also offers a variety of pastries and baked goods, and you literally can’t go wrong when choosing a treat to go with your cup of gourmet coffee or tea. I enjoyed the matcha cream puff, which is filled with sweet white chocolate mousse and dusted with green matcha powder. It may look strange, but it is the most delicious and messy thing to eat.

I also got to try the Alpaca bar, which is like a soft granola bar made with apples, dark chocolate, golden raisins, walnuts, and oat streusel, and topped with a drizzle of caramel.

Coffee: 11/10. I didn’t try any of the fancy brewed coffees, just the Americano, but the espresso here is amazing. Rich and dark with zero bitterness, and tastes delicious hot or cold.

Atmosphere: 7/10. It’s a nice homey, warm, and inviting atmosphere, but at some times of the day it can be very crowded, and there often isn’t a place to sit. This would not be a great place to go for some studying or work, but would definitely be on my list of eateries to visit with friends or coworkers for brunch or an afternoon out in Manhattan.

Location: 8/10. Located in Midtown Manhattan, it’s right in the middle of things and is a great spot for tourists or any locals that live in the area.

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/bibble-sip/feed/0bibblecollageemmajanemorganCollage44.jpgCollage555.jpgCafecito Organicohttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/cafecito-organico/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/cafecito-organico/#respondThu, 11 Feb 2016 01:26:00 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=216Continue reading Cafecito Organico]]>A friend recommended this cafe to me and after visiting, I’m confident in recommending it to whoever may be reading this blog. For a trendy cafe in Malibu, Cafecito Organico is very affordable and offers an excellent selection of brewed coffee, espresso drinks, and tea. The cafe is also attached to a bookstore, and it’s located in a small shopping center with lots of outdoor seating. One drawback is the lack of seating indoors–you would think they’d have at least a few chairs for customers who want to buy a book and read it while drinking a coffee. They do have a large table where you can stand and read or use a laptop, but there was only one person doing so when I visited. There were no outlets in sight, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It creates an atmosphere that is less about work and more about social interaction.

This is the kind of coffeeshop that you enter just to get your coffee, and perhaps browse the bookstore, and then take your cup to go or wander around the area, doing a little window-shopping or chatting with friends at one of the outdoor seating areas. I actually didn’t notice if there was any music playing, so unfortunately I can’t comment on that. I don’t think it’s a good place to do work or to study, but it would be great for a meeting, discussing a group project, or just hanging out with friends.

Most importantly, the coffee is amazing. My Americano was the perfect temperature and smoothness, with absolutely no bitterness. They had almond milk and a pleasantly surprising number of options for sweeteners, including agave nectar and molasses syrup (I tried and enjoyed the agave nectar; next time I will give the molasses a try).

Coffee: 10/10. I wouldn’t change anything about the coffee. My friend also got a hot chocolate and it was incredible. I do wish they had soy milk as an option, but I’m probably becoming spoiled with all the options that Los Angeles coffee shops tend to have, like hemp and coconut milk.

Atmosphere: 8/10. I wish there were seating options indoors, but it’s a really nice atmosphere, very relaxing and casual, and the shopping center has great outdoor seating and decor.

Location: 10/10. It’s right by the beach with a lovely view of the mountains, and it’s located next to Lily’s Cafe, SunLife Organics, and a number of other places, including a bank and a grocery store. Parking is almost always available in the lot except at their busiest hours.

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/cafecito-organico/feed/0CollageCoffeeCafe2emmajanemorganCollageCoffeeCafeStone Spiralhttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/07/stone-spiral/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/07/stone-spiral/#respondSun, 07 Feb 2016 07:13:10 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=199Continue reading Stone Spiral]]>Stone Spiral is a charming little cafe in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. You would never notice it while window-shopping in Maplewood, but if you’ve heard about it, it’s not hard to find. It doubles as a venue for musicians as well as an occasional casual worship space. On a Thursday afternoon at 4p.m., however, it is all about coffee, conversation, and books. Their bookshelves are home to over 100 various titles. The atmosphere of the space is comfortable but not sleepy, which is a good thing when you need to get some work done. I came here with my brother and sister to do some studying over Christmas break and absolutely loved it. They had no music, so I didn’t have to worry about cancelling out any background music when listening to my own stuff. Most of the customers were there with friends, and so there were noticeably fewer laptops than I have seen in L.A. coffeeshops. Quiet conversation and the smells of coffee and chai tea filled the two rooms that make up the main area of the shop. It’s open, not crowded, but it would never feel empty. And the best part of all – there are outlets available for use throughout the cafe, and fast wifi available to all customers.

Coffee – 8/10. Just a little bitter, but overall really good. I sampled some chai tea as well, which was sweet and delicious.

Atmosphere – 9.5/10. The only thing I might change is adding a couple of comfy chairs or couches for those who don’t have work to do. This is definitely my favorite kind of space for drinking coffee, working, and just chilling; the smell of books and the overall feel of things is peaceful, quiet, and friendly.

Location – 6/10. It’s within walking distance for a lot of people in the neighborhood, but it’s really out of the way, not close to any other shops, and not on one of the main streets of Maplewood.

Music – N/A. No music playing, but was not a problem!

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/07/stone-spiral/feed/010525981_10152787390783376_1919097270272829567_nemmajanemorganPandora Radiohttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/03/pandora-radio/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/03/pandora-radio/#respondWed, 03 Feb 2016 07:12:27 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=159Continue reading Pandora Radio]]>Pandora is my favorite website and technology that I use for finding new music. I have a pretty large collection of music that I have curated in my iTunes library, but after a while I need to branch out and look for new stuff, and Pandora is the perfect way to do that. I generally find an artist that I’ve been listening to a lot and create a radio station based on that artist. Pandora then gives you a listening experience made up of songs by that artist as well as similar artists that it thinks you will like.

(This blog is not sponsored by Pandora, I promise!)

What I like to do is create a station with a specific artist and then select “Add Variety” so that it can choose songs from more than one genre. These are two of my all-time favorite combinations:

Alt-J + blink-182

Alt-J is one of the most unique bands that has emerged in the past five or so years; they have an indie pop sound which appeals to a lot of people. However, listening to only that kind of music can get old quickly. I also have a thing for 90s rock and alternative, so adding blink-182 gives the station some good variety with a different genre. This station isn’t great for serious study or focusing, but if you are multitasking (or procrastinating), this is an excellent choice to quietly rock out to. It’s the perfect mix of new and nostalgic.

2. Corinne Bailey Rae + The Fray

This is my go-to station for serious work or studying. It’s relaxing and familiar but won’t make you fall asleep. Corinne Bailey Rae’s best music is from 2006 so similar artists will be from around that time. The Fray is a little more versatile; Pandora will suggest a wide variety of artists that are “similar” to The Fray, which keeps this station from getting old.

One of the best things about Pandora is the different versions and covers of songs that you might not be able to find anywhere else. Here are some great covers that I found from Pandora:

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/02/03/pandora-radio/feed/0pandoraaaemmajanemorganAndantehttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/20/andante/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/20/andante/#respondWed, 20 Jan 2016 20:10:51 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=124Continue reading Andante]]>The coffee shop Andante is a “laid-back coffee specialist” located on Beverly Blvd. in West Hollywood (or as the kids call it, WeHo). A ring of similar cafes surrounds the area, from the Coffee Commissary and the Stir Crazy Coffee Shop to Alfred Coffee and “Go Get Em Tiger” (which I will be visiting very soon). The coffee is delicious, the location is excellent, even the blueberry muffins are incredible. The atmosphere is a little weird, however. The ceilings are very high up and despite a couple of fans circulating the air, it’s a bit warm and stuffy. There are several long tables which provide plenty of seating, but almost everyone is sitting on the side by the wall because that’s where the outlets are (yes, this place has outlets!), so it would be awkward to sit on the opposite side of the table across from a stranger. There’s a little more diversity in technology – only half of the people using laptops are on MacBooks, and several people are actually having conversations. The music is no older than ten years, ranging from folk and alternative to acoustic rock, and it provides a nice background noise, but it is impossible to tell exactly what songs are playing because of the odd acoustics of the space.

In spite of the odd atmosphere and just a little-too-quiet music, the coffee is some of the best I’ve ever had, and visiting on a Wednesday made it a more pleasant experience than it would have been if I had come during the weekend. It seems like the kind of place that people visit with their friends or to just relax, and there isn’t as much work being done, even though it is in the middle of the work week. I don’t see any other college students, so I feel a bit out of place, but it is a nice, welcoming cafe with friendly workers.

Music: 5.5/10. Too quiet, not sure what is playing most of the time. One of the only songs I could identify was by the Smiths, and I really hate the Smiths, but the rest of the music was unoffensive. As I was leaving, they were playing a really good song – Avril 14th by Aphex Twin.

Atmosphere: 5.5/10. Wide open space if you like that kind of thing, but I was getting some weird vibes.

Coffee: 9.5/10. The espresso is incredibly smooth and delicious. They have plenty of soy milk, as well as coconut and almond milk. Extra credit for the blueberry muffins.

Location: 8/10. Free two-hour parking and in a great location, but for some reason the streets felt a little less safe than those in Santa Monica or Malibu.

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/20/andante/feed/0Collage22emmajanemorganpicturess coffeeCoffeeshop Playlisthttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/coffeeshop-playlist/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/coffeeshop-playlist/#commentsTue, 19 Jan 2016 20:25:15 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=81Continue reading Coffeeshop Playlist]]>There is no one type of music that is perfect for playing in a coffeeshop. Many simply have a radio station playing. However, some of the most popular places have created a specific atmosphere that is enhanced by the song selection. Starbucks, for example, creates approved playlists for use in its stores around the world; my personal favorite is the Starbucks ’90s playlist. Recently, they teamed up with Spotify to allow customers to use the official mobile app to choose songs they would like to hear at their local Starbucks.

When I go to a cafe to write or to do work on my computer, there is a certain kind of music that I would rather hear. If they have too much pop or electronic music, I have to put on my huge over-the-ear headphones and choose my own tunes. The following are just a few of my favorite songs to listen to while drinking coffee and getting things done.

“Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones – a classic song from 2002 with just the right amounts of jazz piano and nostalgia with some blues and folk influences. Anything by Jones is a good choice for staying calm and focused. Other great selections are “Things You Don’t Have To Do”, a more upbeat collaboration with the Peter Malick Group, and “Nightingale”, a smooth lullaby that could put you to sleep if you weren’t consuming a considerable amount of espresso.

“Skinny Love” by Bon Iver was released in 2007 and has been one of Bon Iver’s most popular songs. The genre is indie folk and the song is beautiful, if a little sentimental. The band has only released two albums and an E.P., but almost every single one of their songs is incredible. I would recommend giving “Holocene” a listen, as well as his cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”

“Big Jet Plane” by Angus & Julia Stone is a 2009 single by the successful Australian duo. Their sound is a unique, pleasant acoustic folk. “Babylon” (2006) is also worth listening to. If you don’t have (important) work to do, make sure to watch the music videos along with the songs, especially for these two tracks.

]]>https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/coffeeshop-playlist/feed/1adsaaaaemmajanemorganmeghantrainorDemitassehttps://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/demitasse/
https://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/demitasse/#respondWed, 13 Jan 2016 20:31:35 +0000http://emmajanemorgan.wordpress.com/?p=4Continue reading Demitasse]]>My goal with this blog is to explore the coffeeshops of Los Angeles, New York City, and anywhere else I should travel. I love people-watching and making observations about why people go to coffeeshops for things other than coffee. For example, I go to coffeeshops to write blog entries about coffeeshops.

The cafe of the day is Demitasse, a trendy little spot right by Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade. On their website they call themselves “a handful of coffee geeks from all walks of life tinkering with espresso, coffee and tea.” They have free wifi but no wall outlets, a clear message to the customers that you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want–or more realistically, as long as your laptop’s battery lasts. Or perhaps their goal is to encourage other activities, such as reading a book (there are two people reading books, one of them inking the pages with what must be some amusing commentary) or having a conversation (like the adorable couple at the counter holding hands and sipping their twin mini espresso cups).

One of the inexplicable signs hanging on the wall

However, I find myself one of five here studiously at work on their laptops (all MacBooks). There is something about a coffeeshop that inspires. Maybe it’s the smell of freshly brewed coffee, the presence of strangers who say no more than “Is this seat taken?” or the constant presence of white noise. Cups are moved, customers shift in their chair, the door opens and closes with people who are too busy to sit and enjoy a cup for a few minutes, and only have the time to get their drink and go. It’s one of the best places to write for me. Each new person that comes in is a new character, new inspiration for a story.

Atmosphere: 7/10. The space is a little small and crowded to be comfortable or relaxing, but the decorations are minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing.

Coffee: 8.5/10. I will try to get the same drink (Americano) at every cafe I visit so I can better compare the quality of the espresso. It’s smooth and not bitter at all, but isn’t as strong as I would prefer. Bonus–they have almond milk in addition to the typical milk, cream, and sugar.

Location: 9/10. Free public parking nearby; a short walk from the Farmer’s Market, the Promenade, and the Pier.